Nikon FM

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Andy Grant
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A very nice chap at work has brought in his old Nikon FM with a Mitakon 28mm f2.8 lens. They are both in lovely condition, the FM is spotless, just needs new light seals and the lens is clean and scratch free. I asked him how much he wanted for it and he said £50... now I'm thinking this is a bit of a bargain, am I right? I know the Mitakon isn't top quality glass but even for the camera alone, given its condition, it seems a good price.

Andy
 
I had a 24mm Mitakon lens once which was quite nice. Wish I still had it now!

Actually, no I don't. I swapped it and a Pentax Spotmatic for a Symmar 210mm large format lens. I think I got the better deal.


Steve.
 
Mmm, prices do seem to vary between £20 to £80 for the camera. I've just had a close look and this is in pretty minty condition, he has the box and the case both perfect. I think a cheeky £40 offer might clinch the deal.
 
Not much of a bargain - the lens will probably be a 28mm clone and perform fine, but worth very little. It's a decent camera for a £40 offer, but by no means a steal...

(the FM/FE cameras are great though, some of my favourite 35mm SLRs)
 
Well Andy I'm not saying your workmate is dishonest but watch out for sellers who keep the Nikon lens for themselves and put any old lens on the camera body. You could ask him if he has the original Nikkor 50mm lens and then offer him £40, as you'll only have to buy another 28mm for best results.....Nikon + Mitakon lens sounds horrible :(
 
Its the only lens he has Brian and tbh I have a good selection of Nikon lenses anyway including a 28mm. I think that £40 would be about right and it is a fabulous camera to hold and use. I've given it a bit of a clean (just the outside) with a cotton bud and a little glasses cleaner and it has come up like new.
 
Its the only lens he has Brian and tbh I have a good selection of Nikon lenses anyway including a 28mm. I think that £40 would be about right and it is a fabulous camera to hold and use. I've given it a bit of a clean (just the outside) with a cotton bud and a little glasses cleaner and it has come up like new.

Lucky you having plenty of lenses...I have 4 Nikon cameras and only one Nikon lens, well two lenses but one Nikkor will only fit certain cameras as being F mount. :(
 
I paid £40 for an FM body on ebay which turned out to have undisclosed damage and light leaks. ebay hadn't come around to thinking about buyer protection against dishonest sellers at the time so I've still got it, though I'm slowly cannibalising it for screws and the eyepiece went on my GS645S. I might take the back door off in case I need a spare for the FE2 and send it on to my friend who's going to use the parts to make her brooch bouquets, though not before I take more screws out of it in case they come in handy.

I think what I'm saying is, nice one, Andy, sounds like a pretty good deal. :)
 
If it's in great condition, then £40 is not a bad price.

Plus you have the luxury oif looking at it first which you wouldn't have with an Ebay sale.


Steve.
 
If it's in great condition, then £40 is not a bad price.

Plus you have the luxury oif looking at it first which you wouldn't have with an Ebay sale.


Steve.

True and I can take it home and run a film through it before deciding if I want it. He's a very nice chap.
 
Four years ago I bought an FM, because my FM2n had a shutter problem. It was in very good nick and I paid £50. After I'd had the FM2n repaired, I sold the FM - for £50.
 
Lovely cameras, and ridiculously undervalued at that price IMO. You might make half the cost back selling the lens too.
 
i think ther were two versions of the fm ,,,but both of them should have a little tab that can be lifted out of the way and allow you to use pre ai lenses ,,,,i have the mark 2 version and did the light seals and mirror foam on it , and it is a joy to use ,,,,getit getit getit getit getit
 
I wondered how long it would be before you turned up... FM Andy. :D I'm running a fillum through it tomorrow but it looks and feels proper good so far.
 
i think ther were two versions of the fm ,,,but both of them should have a little tab that can be lifted out of the way and allow you to use pre ai lenses ,,,,i have the mark 2 version and did the light seals and mirror foam on it , and it is a joy to use ,,,,getit getit getit getit getit
just a minor difference relating to how they worked with motor drives if I remember correctly - the early ones had an on/off ring around the shutter release I think.
 
I just picked up a black FM in lovely condition, and then a 50mm f1.8 Ai-s pancake to use with it, nice little lens. Fransesco is right, the earlier ones had a knurled lock ring around the shutter release and the serial numbers start with 2, the later version has a smooth ring non-locking and serial number starting with 3, mines the latter.
 
It starts with a 3 so its a later one. I've decided not to have it...too many cameras not enough time.

Andy
 
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